Panel construction



` Feb. l6, 1943. F. F. BEu.

Y PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fyi INVENTOR 56d/ a lll o Il Feb. 16, 1943. F F, BmA 2,311,361

PANEL CONS TRUGTION Filed May 2e, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 l@ 7 @ZV JZ Y e an "nn-" 3Q 20 2 60! 1 36 *P fQ Patented Feb. 16, 1943 2,311,361 PANEL coNs'rRUo'noN Forrest F. Beil, Clinton, Iowa, assignor to Curtis Companies Incorporated, Clinton, Iowa, a corl poration of Iowa Application May 26, 1941, serial No. 395,267

(ci. zii-35) 7 Claims.

My invention relates to a construction for a woodwork panel, such as may be used for cupboard doors and the like.

VThe principal object of my invention is to provide a panel which when iitted in an opening will not give trouble due to shrinking and swelling.

' Inmany part of the country the variations in atmospheric humidity are of such degree that the ordinary type of cupboard door, for example, gives very unsatisfactory performance. When the humidity is high, the door swells and sticks annoyingly in the cupboard or cabinet opening; when the humidity is low, the door may shrink so much that the catches or locks do not engage properly to keep it closed.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide a construction for a panel which may be fitted into an opening as a door, for example, with assurance that shrinkage and swelling will not interfere with its satisfactory operation.

A further object is the provision of a panel construction in which the elements employed readily permit a raised central portion, in conformity with currently popular designs in stove fronts and refrigerator doors.

In a modied form of my invention it is an object to provide a door construction in which the front surface is composed of a single or built-up integral piece, concealing all joints at which relative sliding movement takes place.

A further object is to provide a construction for a panel as used in a cupboard door or the like, which can be manufactured as easily and economically as the conventional types now on the market.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the iront surface of a panei embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the upper left corner of Figure 1, parts being broken away and shown in section.

. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the joint at a .corner of the panel, iromV the rear, parts being broken away.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

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Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6, showing a modied construction.

Figure is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure` 9--is an elevational view of the front surface ofa panel embodying a further modiiied form of my invention.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view'of the upper leftl corner of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line Il-II of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l2-I2 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line I3-l3 of Figure 9.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 20 to designate the stiles of a panel assembly. These Stiles are connected together at their ends by rails 22. Therails and stiles are joined in a well known manner by a tenon 24 on the rail and a mortise 26 in the stile. EachA of the stiles isvprovided with a rabbet 28 along its inner edge, and may have a lip portion 30 along its outer edge to overlap the adjacent portions of a cupboard or cabinet structure 32. The ends of the stiles 22 adjacent the tenon 24 may be formed with a projecting portion 34 which fits into the groove 28, and it should be noted also that the tenon 24 is preferablyrformed so that the planes of its major surfaces are coincidental with the walls of th grooves 28, so that the tenon 24 as well as the projection 34 lies in the groove 28. A central panel 36 is provided along its edges with a tongue 38 which lits into the groove 28. The panel 36 is a fabricated slab composed of strips of Wood glued together, with the grain running perpendicular to` the stiles 20 and parallel to the rails 22. j

A groove 40 is formed in the end rails 22, and thejinner edges of these rails are rabbeted as at 42, leaving a lip 44 which overhangs the central panel 36; A wide groove 46 is `formed in the panel 36, and the portion of ythe rail 22 which is continued as the tenon 24 ts into this groove.-

A rib 48 on the panel 3B projects into the groove 4D inthe rail 22, and the remaining outward portion of the panel 36 is cut down to the same level as the groove 46, leaving an outwardly projecting lip-50. The lip 50, as may be seen in Figure 3,

overlaps the adjacent portions 32 of a cabinet or cupboard -along the top and bottom of the panel, in the same way as does the lip 30 (shown in Figure 6), along the sides of the panel.

The ends of the rib 48 have a projection 49 which lits into the groove 28, for purposes later to be described.

The width of the rib 48 is somewhat less than that of the groove 40. The joint between the tongue 38 and the groove 28 is not glued, and therefore the panel 36 may slide longitudinally of the stile's. Figure 5 shows the panel 36 in its extreme lowest position relative to the rail 22, the rib 48 on the panel 36 being abutted against the lower side of the groove 46. The lip 44 is made of such width that in this extreme position it will still overlap the full thickness portions of the panel 36, so that the groove 46 is not exposed.

It may be well to point out here that ordinary woods do not swell or shrink appreciably in the direction of the grain, but the swelling and shrinkage in response to varying humidity occurs almost exclusively in directions across the grain. The panel 36, therefore, may swell considerably in a vertical direction, as viewed in Figure l, but hardly any in the horizontal direction. In actual practice, the panel 36 is fastened to the stiles 26 by pins 52 (indicated in Figure 1') midway between the ends. Hence the panel will swell both ways from the middle. The end portions can slide in the grooves 28, and there is no direct connection to the rails 22 to interfere with such sliding movement. The extra space allowed for the rib 48 in the groove 40 is proportioned toallow the maximum sliding movement which may be expected under conditions to be encountered. Similarly, the space under the lip 44 is so proportioned.

The surfaces of the complete panel which must fit in the opening of the cupboard or cabinet are indicated at 54 in Figure 3 and at 56 in Figure 6. It willv be noted that so far as these surfaces are concerned, the only shrink or -swel'l which will? affect them is in the transverse width of the two stile members which abut against the ends of the rails. These dimensions are a relatively small proportion of the entire width of the panel, so that the overall shrinkageor swelling in width will be minimized. Y

The greatest variation, of course, takes place in the vertical dimension of the Apanel 36, but if this panel swells it simply slidesu in such amanner that the lip portions 50 extend to a greater degree and hence further overlap they adjacent cabinet structure 32. This has no effect, of course, upon the t of the panel in the cabinet opening.

If the complete panel assembly is mounted in the form of a door in the cabinet opening, it may be constructed with moderate clearances, with assurance that it will not-stick in the opening when it swells, nor will it shrink so much that the latches or catches will fail to engage properly.

By `forming the abutting edgesof the stiles and the panel 36 in a groove such as indicated at 58 in Figures 4' and 6, the crack which must necessarily take place in the paint film when shrinkage or swelling occurs is made as inconspicuous as possible.

The portion of the panel 36' in which the groove 46 is formed is necessarilymuch thinner than the central parts'and the projection 49, ttin-ginto the groove 28, thus has a useful function ino'vera coming any tendency of the endsof thepanel '36 715' to curl up away from the rails 22. Similarly, the projection 34 on the rails, which also fits into the groove 28, aids in keeping the rails in line, and in overcoming any curling tendency in the relatively thin portion where the groove 40 is formed.

In the sectional views of Figures 3-6, the outer surface of the panel 36 is shown as lying in the same plane with the outer surfaces of the stiles 28. It will be apparent, of course, that the central panel may if desired project further, to give the relief effect currently popular in stove fronts and refrigerator doors. A modification of this kind is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. In this form there is a joint 6l] along which relative sliding movement of the panel 36 and the stile 20 will take place.

As illustrating the relative movement between the central panel and the rail, Figure 8 may be compared with Figure 3, since Figure 3 shows the relation of thepanel 36 and theN rail 32 when the panel is shrunk to the extreme position-whereas Figure 8 shows the relative position; of these parts when the panel has swelledrto some degrec-approximately half ofthe total possible amount.

As has been pointed out, in the Figures V1-16` form there is. relative; movement between .the

central panel and stile lalong the line 5.8, and in.

the Figures 7-8 form there isrelative movement along the line 60, and in each case the movementY as viewed in Figure 9, are rabbeted out to leave aA beveled, overhanging tongue 64 which interlocks with the tongue 62 onthe stile to retain the parts in slidable engagement. Across'. Vthe top Aand bottom of the panel 36a the back side is also. rabbeted out as indicated at .66. in Figure l1, leaving a space 68 for. expansion, the space 'being closed by a rib 'l0 extending from. the rail 22a.

As in the forms previously described, the central panel may be fixed to the stiles midway of their length, so that itwill lexpand andcontract both ways from the middle. In this construction the front surface of the panel 36a. is unbroken .-hy any sliding joints. The construction, still has the advantage. of 'the other forms, howeven. in

that the expansion Aand `contraction betweenthe outerv surfaces ofthe rails and Stiles is minimized and the only substantial; result of swelling; of.

the wood is that the edge Aof the, panelia; willl project further beyond the rib,'|8,as indicated Figure l1. This does not adversely affect the 'appearance or attractiveness of the panel many. way or affect its operation `when used. as; azclOQr.

With the Vinterlocking tongue joint of thepanel on the stiles, slidingmovementmay take place., but the stile serves to aid. inl keeping .the panel flat if there is any tendency .tofcurl The particular form of beveled tongue and .grooveshownis not essential, of course, butV any form. o'ff joint which will retain theA central jpanel and s'till permit it to. .swellrelative 'to the stiles',fmight;

be used.

Cabinets containing door panels made according to the modes herein set forth have been subjected to extreme variations in temperature and humidity, and careful examination has adequately demonstrated the consistently satisfactory performance which is obtained.

It will be seen, therefore, that my invention Vrepresents a substantial step in the Way of providing a wood panel in which the disadvantages of shrinkage and swelling are overcome or minimized. Furthermore, this result has been accomplished in a structure which is attractive and neat in appearance. The structure can be manufactured as easily and economically as the conventional types now on the market.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intension to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a panel door assembly, a central member composed of wood with the grain running transversely of the member, said member having outwardly extending tongues along its longitudinal edges, and a frame consisting of longitudinally extending stiles connected by transversely extending end rails, said stiles having -grooves in their inner faces receiving the tongues on said central member, said central member being fixed against sliding movement in said grooves at laterally opposite points intermediate the ends of said stiles, but being otherwise free to slide therein in swelling or shrinking.

2. A -cabinet door having vertical Stiles, end rails connecting said stiles, a wood panel having a tongue and groove engagement with said stiles, said panel being iixed to said stiles at opposite points intermediate the ends of said stiles, the grain in said panel extending horizontally, lips on the outer edges of said stiles extending beyond the cabinet opening when said door is mounted therein, and end portions at top and bottom of said panel overlapping said rails and extending therebeyond to form lips at the top and bottom edges of the door.

3. A cabinet door including a rectangular frame, the side members thereof carrying longitudinal guideways, and a panel member covering said frame and retained in engagement with said side members by portions on said panel member intertting in said guideways, said panel member having portions overlapping each side of said frame and extending beyond the cabinet opening when the door is mounted therein, the grain in said panel running perpendicular to said side members and the extent of overlap beyond the end members of said frame depending upon the swelling and shrinkage of the panel.

4. In a panel door assembly, a rectangular frame, the side members thereof having longitudinally extending grooves on their inner edges, a

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channel out longitudinally in the face of one of the end members of said frame, and a panel member slidably engaged in said grooves, and having a transversely extending rib received in said channel, said rib having projections at its ends extending into said grooves.

5. In a door assembly, a frame consisting of stiles having longitudinally extending grooves on their inner edges, mortises adjacent the ends of said stiles formed as deepened portions of said grooves, a rail connecting said stiles, said rail having tenons extending into said mortises, projections at the ends of said rail adjacent the outer edge thereof, extending into said grooves, a channel cut longitudinally in the face of said rail intermediate between said tenons and said projections, and a wood panel having tongues on each side engaging said grooves, the grain in said panel extending parallel to said rail, said panel overlapping said rail and having a transversely extending rib intertting in said channel in said rail, said ribbeing narrower than said channel, so that said panel may have limited movement in said groo-ves.

6. A door assembly including a frame having stiles with longitudinally extending grooves on their inner edges, said stiles having mortises adjacent their ends, end rails connecting said stiles, and a wood panel having tongues on each side engaging said grooves, the grain in said panel extending parallel to said rails, said panel overlying each of said rails, each of said rails in the facevthereof against the panel having a wide channel near the outer edge and a rabbet in the inner edge, the full thickness portion of the rail between the channel and the rabbet being continued at each end as a tenon extending into the mortise of the adjacent stile, and the full thickness portion between the channel and the outer edge constituting a rib which is continued at each end as a projection extending into the groove of the stile, said panel in the part adjacent said rail having a wide edge rabbet and a wide groove parallel to said rabbet and spaced therefrom by a full thickness portion forming a panel rib, said panel rib being continued at each end as a projection extending into the groove of the stile, the rib on said rail fitting into the rabbet on said panel, the rib on said panel iitting into the channel in said rail,` and the full thickness portion of the rail between the channel and the rabbet fitting into the groove in the panel.

7. A door assembly including a rectangular frame, and a panel covering said `frame and extending therebeyond on each end, said panel being fixed to the side members of said frame at points intermediate the ends of said members but being otherwise slidably retained against said members, at each end edge of said panel a rabbet on the side adjacent the cross member of said frame, and a rib on the frame extending into said rabbet.

` FORREST F. BEIL. 

